France have their first win of a lacklustre Nations League campaign after beating Austria 2-0 at the Stade de France.
The hosts came into this match knowing that defeat would condemn them to drop into League B for the next edition of the tournament, having already surrendered the chance to defend their Nations League crown. They also knew that they would be without some of their best players, with Hugo Lloris, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Ibrahima Konate among their high-profile absentees.
France made a fast start, Kylian Mbappe curling a beautiful shot past Austria goalkeeper Patrick Pentz with barely two minutes on the clock. The flag was raised, though, and VAR confirmed that Mbappe was offside.
The hosts went on to utterly dominate the first half, ending it with 60 per cent possession and 15 shots to one for their opponents. Nonetheless, thanks mainly to Pentz, the two sides went in level at the break.
With 25 minutes gone, Mbappe played a lovely one-two with Giroud and went one-on-one with Pentz only to take one touch too many and allow the keeper to nick the ball off his toe. He went close again moments later, as did Antoine Griezmann.
Pentz pulled off an incredible double save at a corner soon afterwards, tipping a spectacular bicycle kick from Aurelien Tchouameni onto the crossbar before denying Griezmann at close range on the follow-up. As the first half drew to a close Mbappe rounded Pentz and teed up Youssouf Fofana but, with the goal gaping, he scuffed his attempted finish.
Austria tried to assert themselves immediately after the restart, Marcel Sabitzer crossing for Xaver Schlager on the charge only for his teammate to fluff his lines with only Alphonse Areola to beat. Just as the visitors started to put together a decent spell of possession, however, France delivered a killer blow.
Sabitzer miscontrolled the ball in midfield and lost it to Giroud, who played in Mbappe. Shimmying and sliding past several defenders, he danced to the edge of the area before thundering an unstoppable shot past Pentz.
Giroud wrapped up the scoring on the 65-minute mark, connecting with a floated cross from Griezmann to head into the far corner. The former Arsenal and Chelsea man eventually left the field to a standing ovation, which was well deserved.
TALKING POINT
France save face. As reigning Nations League champions, relegation to League B would be a steep fall from grace for Mbappe and co. Not only have they salvaged some pride with this victory, they have given themselves a good chance of avoiding the drop.
They still need to overcome Denmark at the weekend to guarantee a third-placed finish in the group. Austria have to beat table-topping Croatia to have any hope of reclaiming third, however, so France are relatively secure.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Oliver Giroud (France). While Mbappe is the obvious choice here, Giroud deserves the nod for an excellent all-round performance.
This was the big man at his best: flicks, tricks, lovely lay-offs for his teammates, an assist for Mbappe and a goal to wrap things up. In the absence of Benzema, he made a compelling case for inclusion in Deschamps’ World Cup squad.
PLAYER RATINGS
France: Maignan 6, Kounde 6, Varane 7, Badiashile 8, Clauss 7, Tchouameni 8, Fofana 6, Mendy 7, Griezmann 8, Giroud 9, Mbappe 9
Subs: Saliba 8, Areola 6, Nkunku 6, Dembele 6, Kolo Muani N/A
Austria: Pentz 8, Trimmel 5, Lienhart 5, Alaba 6, Wober 5, Weimann 5, Schlager 5, Seiwald 5, Sabitzer 4, Arnautovic 4, Onisiwo 4
Subs: Ljubicic 5, Baumgartner 5, Gregoritsch 4, Schmid 5, Posch 5
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
2’ NO GOAL! Mbappe has the ball in the back of the net after a spot of pinball in the box, sending a curling shot beyond Pentz from a tight angle, but the flag goes up and VAR shows he’s offside.
25’ SO CLOSE! Mbappe plays a neat one-two with Giroud, bursting into the area to go one-on-one with Pentz. He looks certain to score, but takes one touch too many and allows the Austria goalkeeper to sweep up.
26’ TWO BIG CHANCES! First, Giroud heads down Mendy’s cross to Griezmann who loses the ball before he can pull the trigger. Moments later, Mbappe works an opening and sends a shot bouncing wide of the far post.
34’ INCREDIBLE DOUBLE SAVE! France win a corner and Mbappe whips a delivery to the far post, where Giroud heads it back across goal. Tchouameni pulls off a ludicrous bicycle kick which Pentz pushes onto the crossbar, before the Austria keeper denies Griezmann at close quarters.
45+1’ ALMOST! Mbappe gets away down the left, bursts into the box and rounds Pentz, but the angle is too tight for him to shoot. He tees up Fofana but, with the goal at his mercy, he misfires.
56’ GOAL! Austria have a promising spell of possession, but Sabitzer loses the ball to Giroud in midfield. He plays in Mbappe, who twists, turns, shimmies and slides before thumping a shot into the back of the net.
65’ GOAL! France tear up the pitch and Griezmann gets away up the right flank. He floats a cross to Giroud, who heads into the far corner.
